The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-31
TIE READING TROUBLES.
The Convention of Employees Issnes an Order
for General Strike.

The Convention of Employees Issues an Order
for General Strike.
READING, Dec. 30.-The convention of Read
ing railroad employees. after a continuous session
of nearly eight hours, adjourned at half-past
o'clock this morning. and at that time decided to
issue orders for q general strike to take place at
IL o'clock to-day. Every man in the employ of
the Reading company, with the exception of
passenger-train crews, trackmen and signal
tower and crossing watchmen, is to go on
strike; and fifteen minutes after the meet
ing the signal was flashed across the wires to
Philadelphia and Willianisport The resolution
says that the men shall strike and remain out
until the company shall agree to arbitrate all
differences. This includes the shopm en- in this
city-who took the initiative in refusing to 60 out
early this week, thus breaking the backbone of
the strike at that time-and every man who be-
longs to the Knights.
A resolution was also passed Offering reward
of So, 900 for the arrest of any person who in
any way destroys or Injuries any of the compa
uys property. The order includes not only the
hands on the main line but over the whole sys-
tenn, and is to take effect at noon to-day. 1t is
thought that the shop hands in this city will
not obey the order. After the adjournment of
the convention the miners held a separate ses-
morning They transacted nothing definite in
reference to striking, but agreed to give full
financial and moral support to the strikers
the railroad. The Schuylkill county delegation
consists of 125 delegates. and they, almost to a
man, predicted that the company's 30 900 miners
would strike if they were not continued the
per cent. advance.
The miners did not decide to strike with the
railroad men, because they ara working by an
ant he W
until Jan. /, and because they still have hopes
that the company will continue the per cent
advance.
Chairman Lee of the executive committee
before he left Reading this morning, declared
that If a strike of miners did take place it would
not only affect the Scnuylkill miners, but those
in the Wyoming coal fields. we'll the Lee
high miners. He felt sure they would ell re-
main firm, thus placing on strike at one time
100, 900 miners, and not pound OF coal could
then be mined
Last nights convention consisted exactly ot
$50 delegates. the majority of whom came from
the coal regions, the Lehigh and Wyoming
miners being also represented. The convention
was entirely secret Hardly delegate arrived
before sundown last evening. and every one had
disappeared from the city before daylight The
companys officials in this city not greatly
exercised over the new order of the raroaders
to strike They say that the trains are all run
ming on time that they have all the men
they want, and others in reserve. and that the
only danger is of a coal famine if the miners
should strike
None of the employees on the road or in the
shops in this city struck to-day in accordance
with the orders of the convention 1t falls fat
throughout this section and the only turbulent
feeling is reported from the coal regions.
1--WE sent twenty coal trains into the regions
and two thousand loaded cars to tide-water, be-
sides nearly 1,300 of freight yes
terday and last night" said General Dispatcher
Bertolet. of this city this morning.
"Do you think there is probability of q
vival OF the strike again by the present forcel"
was asked.
s'No, sir; emphatically no. Why should theyl
The men all applied for work voluntarily, and
it is not probable that they would act so fool
shly. Oh. no; they not made of that kind
of material The men we have now are going
to stay with us."
All trains moving usual to-day, and not
an employe. as far as can be learned, is from
his post. AT Reading and vicinity everything
is as quiet along the railroad if no strike ad
ever taken place or any been ordered. There is
not single indication of trouble.
Representatives of Reading assemblies claim
that they were not fairly treated. and charge
that the convention was packed with delegates
from the coal regions bent upon forcing o strike.
In the language OF one of them, ''the SchuylkIll
county men came here red-hot for fight to the
finish. determined to force the 2, 600 employees of
the Reading shops into an unequal contest"
This morning the convention made public the
correspondence OF the knights of Labor and
Miners and Laborers' Amalgamated Association
in Pottsville with President Corbin. In the first
dispatch the men say that they desrous of
arbitrating, as public interests demand a salts
factory settl ement, work to continue as usual
pending arbitration. To this President Corbin
replied that he had nothing to arbitrate. The
men replied that public interests should not
suffer. and urgently appealed that negotiations
open in hopes OF adjustment. President Corbn
replied to this that the company had nothing to
discuss arbitrate. He adds: ''Any dictation
by any one In our employ as 10 how we shall do
our business will be followed by the discharge
of the medder." He says that employees must
decide as between the Knights of Labor and the
company. He adds: IF such allegiance is TO
the Knights of Labor first, such men will not be
tolerated n our service q minute" To this the
mon replied that they wanted to settle the i'm
pending difficulty. bUt would contest every inch
OF ground, inspired with the motto, ''No sur
render until victory is complete"
The trades-unions of Reading, composed of
such bodies as the printers, hatters, moders,
bakers. carpenters, hod-carriers. cigar NJ akers,
BARRIERS, etc, have organized themselves into
body known the Trade and Labor Council,
They do not affiliate with the knights of Labor.
At late hour last night, after a lengthy meet
ing. the council passed the following resolu-
tiops:
Resolved, That we, the Trade and Labor Council
Of Reading. do censure the Philadelphia 81 Reading
and request all unions extend their sympathies and
aid to those directly injured by the company.
Resolved, That we severely condemn the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers for their very ready
oer of assis to the company present diff
icuties the road, merely for the purpose of seek
ng revenge.
How the Order Was Received.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 30.-As far as could be
learned this afternoon the order for the Read
ng employees to strike at noon to-day had no
oercepti bic effect in this city. At Port Rich
nond and all the depots and along the lines of
he various branches of the company in the city,